At the beginning of March, almost similar to other years, the first snake as well as mini cucumbers, could be harvested in the glasshouse of the traditional Viennese nursery Kasehs. "Although we planted less area, we were able to harvest more yield per square meter thanks to slight adjustments in the cultivation method, such as foil covering. This not only allowed us to better manage vegetation but also to reduce energy consumption. Compared with last year, we have been able to harvest about eight percent more cucumbers so far," says Karl Kasehs Jr, owner of the company of the same name in Vienna's Gärtnersiedlung.
Whether they will also harvest lush quantities in the second half of the season until the end of the season in mid-November is difficult to estimate at the moment, he says. "The yield depends on many factors," says Kasehs, pointing not only to the weather but also to the cucumber virus called CABYV. "We got off lightly with losses of 10 to 15 percent last year. But there were colleagues who suffered crop losses of more than 80 percent." As a result, Kasehs will now conduct a trial planting of CABYV-resistant varieties.
Snake cucumbers in a double pack
Mixed sales situation
Meanwhile, Kasehs describes the marketing situation as 'mixed.' The producer prices of domestic cucumbers are satisfactory in view of the sharp rise in costs, for example, for fertilizer and packaging materials, says the grower, whose main customers include Metro Austria, Steirerland Gemüse, Nah & Frisch - Kiennast and the online supermarket Gurkerl.at. The vast majority of total sales are represented by conventional snake cucumbers. "Mini cucumbers have more of a supplementary character and account for about 5 to 6 percent of our total area. Nonetheless, they have been able to establish themselves as an interesting sideline."
In snake cucumbers, all desired calibers are currently available in sufficient quantities, Kasehs continues. "For bulk marketing, we mainly supply cucumbers with a unit weight between 400 to 500 grams. In addition, there is the smaller product, which weighs about 350 grams and is mainly found in stores as a double pack with banderole."
Field or mini cucumbers and melanzani in a double pack.
Viennese melanzani: Successful niche
Meanwhile, the third harvest year of Viennese eggplants, which can normally be offered until mid-October, started in week 17. About 90 percent of the 0.2-hectare cultivation area is devoted to the dark eggplants commonly grown on the market, with white and graffiti eggplants being produced in addition. Kasehs: "We are only one of a few who grow melanzani in the Vienna area and observe a steady demand throughout the season. The harvest or marketing window is much shorter compared to cucumbers, but eggplants require less maintenance, making it an interesting secondary crop from a producer's perspective."
Snake cucumbers for bulk marketing.
Opportunities and challenges
Despite numerous challenges, the management of the family business, founded in 1886, looks ahead with confidence. "Growing vegetables in glasshouses tends to become more difficult due to climate change. This makes the integration of renewable energy, such as photovoltaics, all the more important. We are concerned about this topic, but I am still somewhat cautious, as the technology is constantly being optimized. In terms of marketing, we have the advantage that with the cucumber, we produce a sales-proof product that is well received regardless of the season."
Images: K. Kasehs Qualitätsgemüse GmbH
For more Information:
Karl Kasehs jun.
K. Kasehs Qualitätsgemüse GmbH
Hörtengasse 21
A-1110 Wien
Tel.: +43 664 916 58 12
Email: [email protected]
https://www.kasehs-gurken.at/